On a recent episode of “The Rich Eisen Show”, ex-NFL player Jason Kelce provided an account of his experience at WWE during WrestleMania 40 which took place earlier this year.
Here are a few important takeaways from that discussion that you can go through:
When asked about his experiences with wrestling, Kelce said, “When I was young, we never really tuned in to the pay-per-view, events. I used to enjoy watching WCW and WWF. WrestleMania was a known entity, but we never really paid it much attention, so I didn’t quite know what to expect. The announcement of WrestleMania coming to Philly and inviting Lane and me to be a part of it was very exciting. Subsequently, I started understanding the enormity of the event and its significance in the wrestling world. Lane and I visited a couple of wrestling gyms in South Jersey and practiced moves and bumps. I learned things like how to take a bump, how to deliver a clothesline, or how to appear unperturbed when slapped in the chest. The last one actually hurts. Interacting with the people at WrestleMania and observing firsthand the high level of professionalism was indeed a wonderful experience. Side stage, you realize that wrestling mat is not cushy. It feels like a solid slab of wood. Watching those athletes perform daredevil stunts off the top rope, like Rey Mysterio, was an education. It increased my respect for them multifold.”
Reflecting on his experiences at WrestleMania 40 and discussing the criticism often targeted at wrestling for being “fake”, Kelce expressed, “That was a great experience—extremely enjoyable. Wrestling being labeled as ‘fake’—well, isn’t the TV show you’re watching also a work of fiction? The astounding athleticism on display during those matches and the extraordinary feats being performed should be enough to garner respect. The fact that these are somewhat choreographed doesn’t detract from the overall impressiveness.”
You can watch the full interview below, where Jason Kelce discusses more about his experiences at WCW, WrestleMania, and more with Rich Eisen.